Do Adore Thee

Tyler Kennedy post:  Good Friday Hymn

There's something about music played in a minor key that really serves sorrowful lyrics. And that's a gracious thing, especially when you know you ought to feel the weight of the words more and you don't.

We sang this hymn last night at Bethlehem's Maundy Thursday service, and God used the consonance of its words and melody to move me emotionally closer to the bitterness and beauty of the cross. I was grateful. Perhaps he would use it to move you too.

I found a great recording of it at Songsandhymns.org, which you can listen to or download.

Ah, Holy Jesus
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,
That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee.
I crucified Thee.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thy incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For our atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,
I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee.
Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.